The importance of something is its quality of being significant, valued, or necessary in a particular situation.
We have always stressed the importance of economic reform. [+ of]
Safety is of paramount importance.
Synonyms: significance, interest, concern, matter More Synonyms of importance
2. uncountable noun
Importance means having influence, power, or status.
More Synonyms of importance
importance in British English
(ɪmˈpɔːtəns)
noun
1.
the state of being important; significance
2.
social status; standing; esteem
a scholar of importance
3. obsolete
a.
meaning or signification
b.
an important matter
c.
importunity
importance in American English
(ɪmˈpɔrtəns)
noun
1.
the state or quality of being important; significance; consequence
2. Obsolete
a.
a matter or consequence
b.
import, or meaning
c.
importunity
SYNONYMY NOTE: importance, the broadest of these terms, implies greatness of worth, meaning, influence, etc.[news of importance]; consequence, often interchangeable with the preceding, more specifically suggests importancewith regard to outcome or result [a disagreement of no consequence]; moment expresses this same idea of importance in effect with somewhat stronger force [affairs of great moment]; weight implies an estimation of the relative importance of something [his word carries great weight with us]; significance implies an importance or momentousness because of a special meaning that may or maynot be immediately apparent [an event of significance]
Word origin
MFr < OIt importanza
COBUILD Collocations
importance
central importance
considerable importance
crucial importance
cultural importance
diminish the importance of
emphasize the importance of
enormous importance
equal importance
great importance
growing importance
highlight the importance of
historic importance
historical importance
immense importance
national importance
paramount importance
particular importance
place importance on
profound importance
realize the importance of
recognize the importance of
relative importance
secondary importance
symbolic importance
underline the importance of
understand the importance of
utmost importance
vital importance
Examples of 'importance' in a sentence
importance
Parents and schools must emphasise the importance of mutual respect and tolerance and warn of the damage bullying can do.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Both are of national economic importance.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The report also emphasised the importance of eating whole grains and oily fish.
The Sun (2008)
Trust and integrity are of paramount importance.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
What the law should be doing is upholding and recognising the significance and importance of marriage.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
He understands the importance and power of football.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
We hear a lot about the importance of building social capital and the role of civil society.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
That could mean as a figurehead or influence of overwhelming importance.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Neither was the war news of any great importance.
Len Deighton Bomber
This is a matter of great economic importance.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
There were frequent differences of view over the quality and importance of records considered for issue.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
But he also emphasised the importance of character and direction from the top.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Nobody argues against the economic and social importance of continuing adult education.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
One of the most importance sources of influence in government is found within the government itself.
Appelbaum, Richard P. Sociology (1995)
Great importance can be attached to belonging to the group.
Aiken, Nick Working with Teenagers (1994)
The economic importance of the illegal trade was not so great as to justify war.
French, David The British way in Warfare - 1688-2000 (1990)
The steel and car industries are of particular importance.
Jilbert, John Geography Basic Facts (1983)
He emphasises the importance of quality content.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
This would probably be less of a problem if being a parent had more importance and status attached to it.
Pearce, Dr John Families and Friends - how to help your child form happy relationships. (1989)
They are philosophical about the power and importance of technology as they have seen it change many times in their career.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
But they emphasise the importance of relinquishing some of what you've been struggling to keep afloat.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
But when it is given great significance and symbolic importance far beyond what it really deserves, then the harm occurs.
Christianity Today (2000)
You will be inhabited by a very particular sense of the meaning and importance of the Union, for it widens your canvas and affirms your move south.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
In other languages
importance
British English: importance /ɪmˈpɔːtns/ NOUN
The importance of something is the fact of it being significant, valued, or necessary in a particular situation.
The price is of no importance.
American English: importance
Arabic: أَهَمِّيَةٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: importância
Chinese: 重要性
Croatian: važnost
Czech: důležitost
Danish: vigtighed
Dutch: belangrijkheid
European Spanish: importancia
Finnish: tärkeys
French: importance
German: Wichtigkeit
Greek: σημασία σπουδαιότητα
Italian: importanza
Japanese: 重要性
Korean: 중요성
Norwegian: betydning
Polish: znaczenie ważność
European Portuguese: importância
Romanian: importanță
Russian: важность
Latin American Spanish: importancia
Swedish: vikt
Thai: ความสำคัญ
Turkish: önem
Ukrainian: важливість
Vietnamese: tầm quan trọng
All related terms of 'importance'
central importance
The importance of something is its quality of being significant , valued, or necessary in a particular situation .
crucial importance
The importance of something is its quality of being significant , valued, or necessary in a particular situation.
equal importance
The importance of something is its quality of being significant , valued, or necessary in a particular situation .
great importance
The importance of something is its quality of being significant , valued, or necessary in a particular situation.
growing importance
The importance of something is its quality of being significant , valued, or necessary in a particular situation.
immense importance
The importance of something is its quality of being significant , valued, or necessary in a particular situation.
utmost importance
The importance of something is its quality of being significant , valued, or necessary in a particular situation .
vital importance
The importance of something is its quality of being significant , valued, or necessary in a particular situation.
cultural importance
The importance of something is its quality of being significant , valued, or necessary in a particular situation.
enormous importance
The importance of something is its quality of being significant , valued, or necessary in a particular situation.
historical importance
The importance of something is its quality of being significant , valued, or necessary in a particular situation.
historic importance
The importance of something is its quality of being significant , valued, or necessary in a particular situation .
national importance
The importance of something is its quality of being significant , valued, or necessary in a particular situation .
paramount importance
The importance of something is its quality of being significant , valued, or necessary in a particular situation .
particular importance
The importance of something is its quality of being significant , valued, or necessary in a particular situation.
profound importance
The importance of something is its quality of being significant , valued, or necessary in a particular situation.
relative importance
The importance of something is its quality of being significant , valued, or necessary in a particular situation.
secondary importance
The importance of something is its quality of being significant , valued, or necessary in a particular situation.
symbolic importance
The importance of something is its quality of being significant , valued, or necessary in a particular situation .
considerable importance
The importance of something is its quality of being significant , valued, or necessary in a particular situation .
place importance on
The importance of something is its quality of being significant , valued, or necessary in a particular situation.
realize the importance of
The importance of something is its quality of being significant , valued, or necessary in a particular situation.
diminish the importance of
The importance of something is its quality of being significant , valued, or necessary in a particular situation.
emphasize the importance of
The importance of something is its quality of being significant , valued, or necessary in a particular situation.
highlight the importance of
The importance of something is its quality of being significant , valued, or necessary in a particular situation.
recognize the importance of
The importance of something is its quality of being significant , valued, or necessary in a particular situation.
underline the importance of
The importance of something is its quality of being significant , valued, or necessary in a particular situation.
understand the importance of
The importance of something is its quality of being significant , valued, or necessary in a particular situation.
self-important
If you say that someone is self-important , you disapprove of them because they behave as if they are more important than they really are.
Chinese translation of 'importance'
importance
(ɪmˈpɔːtns)
n(u)
(= significance) 重要性 (zhòngyàoxìng)
(= influence) 影响(響) (yǐngxiǎng)
of importance有影响(響)的 (yǒu yǐngxiǎng de)
of great/little importance至关(關)重要/无(無)关(關)紧(緊)要 (zhì guān zhòngyào/wú guān jǐnyào)